Milk-can ventilator



Dec. 4,1923. A 1,476,300

A O. T. LARSON MILK CAN VENTILATOR Filed March 5, 1922 Patented Dec. l, 1923.

UNITED STATES OLEF T. LARSON, OF STOUGHTON, WISCONSIN.

MILK-CAN VENTILATOR.

Application filed March 3, 1922.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Omar T. LARSON, a CltlZell' oi' the United States, residing at Stoughton, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and use ful Milk-Can Ventilator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to milk cans designed for use in shipping milk from the producer to the dealer, the primary object of the invention being to provide means to ventilate the can While the same is being returned to the producer, thereby eliminating objectionable odors caused by milk souring in the cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for temporarily sealing the milk can top or closure to prevent the milk con tained in the can from being slopped or spilled from the can while the milk is in transit.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arran ement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmental sectional View through a can disclosing the closure as supplied with a ventilator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the ventilator showing the temporary sealing means as positioned in the Ventilator.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the ventilator with the sealing means removed to ventilate the can supplied therewith.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the ventilator.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the ventilator, which is indicated generally by the reference character 5, is shown. as positioned within a suitable opening formed centrally of the closure 6 which is positioned in the mouth of the can 7.

The body portion is circular in formation, and includes a relatively vertical wall 8 adapted to be positioned in the opening, formed in the closure 6. A groove 9 is formed intermediate the ends of the body portion 5 and is designed to accommodate the screening element 10, the edges of the Serial No. 540,889.

screening element being shown as positioned in the groove 9. As shown, the upper portion of the body 5 is cut away to provide a shoulder 11, the lower portion of the body 5 being also cut away to provide a shoulder 12, which shoulders receive a sealing element to prevent milk or fluid from being spilled or slopped from the can, while the same is in transit.

Each sealing member embodies a pair of disks 13 which are of diameters equal to the diameters of the cut out portions of the member 5 so that the same will closely fit within the cut out portion, one disk engaging the shoulder associated therewith. Between the disks oi: each sealing member, is a flexible member 14 which may be formed of wire, cord, or similar-material, the purpose of the cord being to rip the seal from its closing position to allow air to pass through the screening member 10 and into the can.

In the use of the device, it is only necessary to form a hole in the closure of a can, and fix the ventilator within the openin in any suitable and well known manner. When the can has been filled with milk, the sealing members are positioned in the body portion 5 in a manner as shown by Figure 2 ot' the drawing, whereupon the material within the can will be prevented from slopping out.

When the can has been emptied, it is contemplated to remove the sealing elements, thereby permitting a circulation of air through the can and through the screening member 10.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A milk can closure ha-vingan opening formed centrally thereof, a ventilator including a body portion disposed within the opening, said body portion having a groove formed intermediate its ends, a screening element disposed in the groove, said body portion having cut out portions providing upper and lower shoulders, sealing members positioned in the cut out portions and resting on the shoulders for guarding the screening element.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLEF T. LARSGN.

Witnesses:

BEN E. WAIT, W. G. PARGETER. 

